My Genealogy Hound

HENRY GREGORY, one of the most progressive and enterprising of the farmers of Pettis County, has been a resident of his present beautiful estate since 1868. His homestead is located on section 24, township 44, range 23, and consists of one hundred and forty acres of finely improved land, all of which has been acquired by industry and frugality. Since locating here he has from time to time made valuable improvements on the place, the appearance of which reflects credit upon his energy and thrift.

Mr. Gregory was born in England, in the year 1841. He was the eldest in the family of Henry and Jane (Laney) Gregory, also natives of the British Isle. The father died in Somersetshire in 1852, and in 1853 his widow and children crossed the Atlantic and located at Waterloo, N. Y. There young Henry grew up, and although the limited circumstances of the family made it impossible for him to attend school regularly, yet his desire for learning led him to read substantial books, and thus by his own effort he gained a good knowledge of men and things. He was thrown upon his own resources when young in years, as it was necessary for him to work in order to aid in the support of his widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters. He vividly recalls his first employment in this county, when he was obliged to walk two miles each morning to an old-fashioned mill, where he was hired to grind tanbark, receiving for his wages twenty-five cents per day.

When sixteen years of age our subject entered the employ of his uncle, who was a practical carpenter, and after serving an apprenticeship under him for some time hired out to a builder, under whose instruction he erected dwellings and stores until 1867. That year we find him engaged in the oil business in St. Louis, but this venture not meeting with the success which he had hoped, he abandoned it the following year, and, coming to Pettis County, located upon the beautiful tract of land which is still in his possession. He has been very prominent in the development of this portion of the county, and has been an active factor in achieving for it its present condition of prosperity.

Mr. Gregory was married in 1870 to Miss Mary M. Lambert, daughter of John and Margaret (Sutliff) Lambert, natives of Waterloo, N. Y. The wife was there born and reared, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of six children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Clara L., Isaac L., Henry E. and Herbert S. They have all been well educated and are still at home with their father. Mrs. Gregory was called to her final home in 1883, and in October, 1893, our subject chose for his second companion Ellen Alice, the youngest sister of his former wife. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, but his children incline toward the doctrines of the Congregational society. In politics he is a Republican, having an abiding faith in that party’s teachings and principles. He is a practical, industrious man, who is always relied upon to advance any measures for the improvement and upbuilding of his community.